Sunday, July 23, 2017

The extension of martial law in Mindanao for another five months is a prelude for the implementation of martial rule across the country, Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairperson Jose Ma. Sison said on Saturday.

Sison said this meant more offensives against the New People's Army and "other revolutionary forces."

"It means that the NPA and other revolutionary forces will continue to be targeted on the scale of Mindanao, especially where there are no Bangsamoro armed forces," Sison told GMA News Online.

"This is also a preparation for ML (martial law) nationwide combined with the Tokhang-style EJKs (extra judicial killings) and bombings and shelling of communities," he added.

Congress in joint session approved on Saturday President Rodrigo Duterte's proposal to extend martial law extension until yearend, with 261 affirmative votes from both houses.

Earlier, Sison pronounced that peace talks between the government and the Reds were unnecessary because of the Duterte administration's "obsession with martial law and mass murder."

Duterte then said that he was ready to renew the fight with the communists.

For about $50, Filipino families are being recruited to support IS with promises of more money if they recruit others, the publication suspects.

In late June, about 300,000 residents were reported to be displaced.

News Corp suspects Filipino families in Marawi (pictured) are being bought by IS for $50 after hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced since May

It is believed no official request for training was received but Defence Department expect it

More than 500 people have died including more than 400 terrorists since the conflict in Marawi began in May (pictured)

'The message from Syria is that if it is getting too difficult to cross over, so if you can't get to Syria, go to the Philippines,' Institute of Policy Analysis of Conflict director Sidney Jones told ABC News.

Members of the Maute Islamist group overran Marawi in May leading to hours of pitched gun battles in the streets.

A police chief was been beheaded, 21 people killed and a Catholic priest taken hostage when more than 100 fighters stormed the city.

A high-ranking government official disclosed that the Islamic State-inspired Maute terrorists who remain in war-torn Marawi City refuse to leave because of their massive loot.

In an interview, the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the government captured the “supposed loot” on video.

“They have 70 bags of loot which is about P20 million per bag,” the source said.

Earlier, the military reported that Maute fighters have collected a cache of gold necklaces, expensive watches and cash from the houses they looted in Marawi.

Last June 5, security forces seized at least P79 million in cash and checks from a house occupied by the Maute fighters in Marawi.

Authorities were still investigating who owns the money and if it was connected to terrorist activities.

Meanwhile, during the new Mindanao Hour briefing in Malacañang on Friday, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said the Maute force is down to about 60 to 70 fighters confined in only three Marawi barangay (villages).

“I would say the area is now constricted to three barangays, it’s about 700 x 700, that’s about 49 hectares. A little small from the – there are 96 barangays in Marawi, by the way, and we used to have the main battle area in 12 barangays,” Esperon told reporters.

He added that President Rodrigo Duterte expressed optimism that the crisis would soon be over.

“The President was able to give the commanders on the ground the way ahead, what he expects to do, what he expects of the troops but he is very positive that we will be able to take Marawi in a few more days and start right off with the reconstruction and rehabilitation,” he said.

Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao on May 23, after the Maute extremist group attacked Marawi City that left hundreds killed and thousands of families displaced.

The death toll in the Marawi siege has risen to 571, as of July 20, including the 427 terrorists, 99 government troops, and 45 civilians.

On Thursday, the President fulfilled his promise to visit the city amid the ongoing battle.

From Update Philippines (Jul 22): Philippine Navy now has Tethered Aerostat Radar SystemThe Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS), low-level airborne ground surveillance system that uses aerostat as radar platform, of Philippine Navy from United States government has finally arrived, MaxDefense Philippines said without giving details where the said platform is stationed and when it arrived.

The aerostats are large fabric envelopes filled with helium, and can rise up to an altitude of 15,000 feet (4,600 m) while tethered by a single cable. The largest lifts a 1000 kg payload to an operating altitude providing low-level, downward-looking radar coverage.

TARS has a Maximum Detection Range of 200 nautical miles.

This is among the military aid provided by US to boost the Philippines’ maritime surveillance capabilities amid West Philippine Sea dispute.

The TARS for Philippine Navy was first announced by US officials in April 2016.

In 2015, the US government announced its five-year Maritime Security Initiative, a commitment to help partner nations like Philippines address common challenges with an overall budget of US$425-million.

“We’ve just released the first tranche of this money, nearly 80 percent of which is going to the Philippines. There it will help modernize the technology and train staff at the Philippines National Coast Watch Center, enhance an information network to enable the sharing of classified communications between U.S. Pacific Command in Hawaii and key Philippines maritime command centers, provide an aerostat reconnaissance platform (airship), and outfit Philippine navy patrol vessels with better sensors so they can see and do more in the region’s waters,” former United States Secretary of Defense Ash Carter said in April 8, 2016.

(UPDATED) The casualties are recorded on Saturday, July 22, from several incidents in the battle zone

(UPDATED) – The military suffered another bloodbath in Marawi City with up to 9 soldiers killed and 41 others wounded in clashes with local terror groups linked with the Islamic State (SIS).

The casualties were recorded on Saturday, July 22, from several incidents in the battle zone, said Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

Lorenzana fears the fighting will continue to drag on. "Nakakalungkot nga. Akala ko minimized na casualties kasi malapit nang matapos. Tumitindi pa lalo labanan. Kung ganiyan matatagalan pa," he said.(It is disheartening. I thought the casualties will be minimized because we're nearing the end of the crisis. But the clashes are getting fiercer. This could take a while.)

In one incident, 4 soldiers were killed when an improvised explosive device (IED) blew up while they were clearing a building, Lorenzana said.

Rappler observed heavy fighting and successive aistrikes on that day when several journalists were allowed to visit military positions less than 300 meters from the main battle area.

"Maraming nakatanim na explosives sa mga buildings (Many explosives were planted in the buildings)," said Lorenzana. He said they detonated when the troops entered the buildings.

It happened a few days after the military scored a major triumph in regaining control of the extension road from Mapandi Bridge.

The military death toll reached the 3-digit mark with at least 114 soldiers killed, based on statements from the government.

From the Mindanao Times (Jul 23): AFP: No letup in fight vs terror as Martial Law extended

THE ARMED Forces of the Philipines (AFP) vows to destroy the Maute terrorist group in Marawi City following the extension of Martial Law in the whole island of Mindanao until Dec. 31 this year.

The 17th Congress, voting jointly–261 against 18–favored the extension of the Martial Law and the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus until the end of the year.

Gen. Eduardo Año, the AFP Chief, told TIMES yesterday that they are taking the extension seriously.

“It’s an acclamation of the sacrifices of every soldier, airman, sailor, and marine who died, or were wounded or whose limbs were lost fighting or while supporting the fight to retake Marawi and liberate the hostages,” Año said.

Año said the task to neutralize the terrorists-extremists and degrade their capability, to rescue civilians trapped or held hostage, and to set the conditions for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the city is a daunting challenge.

“But your AFP, aware of the enormity of the job that still needs to be done and the great expectations of our people, will measure up to the test,” he added.

The AFP chief also thanked the people for their support, but also urged them to also help the police and military fight terrorism.

In his speech during the joint session of senate and congress on Saturday afternoon, the AFP chief also expressed confidence that their soldiers in Marawi city are disciplined enough to avoid any excesses in the implementation of Martial Law.

Año said they are assessing the situation on the ground to determine if it’s already safe for some families in Marawi to return to their homes. Presently, the AFP said the terrorists are still holed up in four barangays in the city.

In a separate interview, Chief Supt. Manuel Gaerlan, director of Police Regional Office XI, said the region gives its full support to the extension of Martial Law.

“We will see to it that all PNP personnel will abide by the police operational procedures, uphold the rule of law, respect human rights and international humanitarian law,” Gaerlan said.

The regional police chief said they will support the AFP in the implementation of Martial Law. “The PNP is also calling on all responsible citizens to remain vigilant and alert for terrorist and terrorist cells in their community who are out to sow terror, disrupt our democratic institutions and advance their own selfish cause,” he added.

Sr. Supt. Alexander Tagum, director of Davao City Police Office (DCPO), said he expected the approval of the extension by congress, with the uncontrolled aggression of the Maute, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and the New People’s Army.

“It is the only option left to our government and we in the DCPO fully support this, we should fight fire with fire,” Tagum said.

From the Mindanao Times (Jul 23): Speed boats to augment naval assets in Mindanao

CLOSE to 30 new speed boats will be distributed to the Philippine Naval Forces that will patrol Davao Gulf and the surrounding waters in Mindanao.

Vice Admiral Joseph Mercado, flag officer-in-command of the Philippine Navy, said last Wednesday that President Rodrigo Duterte, through the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), has allocated funds for the augmentation of additional speed boats.

Around P600 million was allocated to purchase 10 speed boats for the naval operations group and another 10 to 20 speed boats for the Philippine Marines.

“The President, through DBM, has allocated funds for that and we are trying to acquire it,” Mercado said.

Mercado said there are two areas in Mindanao the Philippine Navy is trying to secure, and make sure that support from Malaysia and Indonesia do not come in to help Maute group in Marawi City.

“What we are trying to do is to improve the maritime surveillance,” he said, adding that the maritime area particularly around Marawi City “is very wide.”

Currently, the Philippine Navy has put up their “littoral stations” in the different islands in Mindanao. These are fast vessels that can easily maneuver around waters. These stations contain radars that could detect and identify watercrafts, which in cases would help them capture potential terrorists who will enter the boarders through the water channel.

Mercado said, the second area they are working on is moving some of the assets so that there will be more ships patrolling the area. He noted however, that the navy ships are very limited (at present).

Moreover, the Philippine Navy is also conducting a multilateral coordinated patrol together with Indonesia and Malaysia.

With the multilateral coordinated patrol, there will be no more sneak-ins in the waters as this will intercept those who will illegally use the entry points to set skirmishes in the area.

Even Malaysia and Indonesia on their part, Vice Admiral Mercado said, “admit that they cannot themselves monitor that particular area that is there is the multilateral patrol.”

He added, “At the very least I can say that the multilateral coordinated patrol is an improved maritime patrol. It will be more difficult for threat personalities to use the sea as a route.”

Marines patrol a deserted street somewhere in Marawi City. Government forces are engaged in a bitter house-to-house battle with the ISIS-inspired Maute Group and its allies. MindaNews photo by FROILAN GALLARDO

Marines prepare to fire their 81mm mortar somewhere in Marawi City. Government forces are engaged in bitter house-to-house battle with the ISIS-inspired Maute Group and its allies. MindaNews photo by FROILAN GALLARDO

From the Mindanao Examiner (Jul 22): Martial Law Extended Until End of Year in Mindanao

Philippine lawmakers have overwhelmingly approved Saturday a resolution that allowed President Rodrigo Duterte to extend martial law until the end of the year in the restive southern region of Mindanao, including three Muslim provinces where Abu Sayyaf militants and pro-ISIS groups actively operate.

It was a “landslide” vote for the joint session of the Senate and House Representatives with 245 congressmen voting to extend the martial rule as against 18 lawmakers, mostly from the opposition and critics of Duterte. And 16 senators also voted in favor of the extension of martial law while four opposition members voted against it.

Majority of lawmakers are allies of Duterte.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, who is appointed by Duterte as martial law administrator, said extending martial law is needed to defeat the local ISIS militants who occupied Marawi City on May 23 and are still fighting security forces.

He said martial law is also needed to fight the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, all in the Muslim autonomous region; and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Maguindanao, also in the autonomous region. The Abu Sayyaf is still holding nearly 2 dozen kidnapped foreigners and Filipinos in the troubled region.

Both the Abu Sayyaf and the BIFF, along with other jihadist groups in the South pledged allegiance to the Islamic State and vowed to put up a caliphate in Mindanao. Some of their leaders participated in the siege of Marawi.

Duterte declared martial law following the siege of Marawi, but he said he never expected the war would take this long. The military insisted it had killed over 400 militants since the start of the war and that nearly 100 soldiers were also slain in the fighting that left about four dozen civilian casualties. The violence displaced over 200,000 people in Marawi, the capital of Lanao del Sur, which is also a part of the Muslim autonomous region.

Communist rebels have vowed to continue attacks on military targets as government peace negotiators failed miserably to convince the separatist group to sign a ceasefire accord and pursue talks aimed at ending the decades-old insurgency in the country.

President Rodrigo Duterte has trashed peace negotiations with communist leaders and abandoned efforts by his peace negotiators to convince rebels to stop attacks on government and military targets.

Rebels demanded the immediate release of nearly 500 political prisoners, mostly commanders and leaders of the New People’s Army, as a condition for the resumption of the stalled talks. Duterte already freed over 2 dozen communist leaders, but the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, the political wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, said the President should have released all political prisoners.

Just last week, rebels killed a pro-government militia and wounded 5 presidential guards in separate attacks in North Cotabato’s Arakan town in the restive southern Philippine region. NPA rebels, who set up a checkpoint on the highway, attacked a convoy of presidential guards who were part of Duterte’s security group while heading to Cagayan de Oro City.

The ambush sparked a firefight, but there was no report of enemy casualties. The rebels also overran a detachment manned by militias and killed one of them. The attack occurred a day after rebels swooped down on the house of Vice Mayor Emmanuel Suarez of Surigao del Sur’s Cortes town. Suarez and his family were unhurt from the raid, but the rebels seized several firearms and warned the politician to do something to stop illegal fishing and logging in his town.

The daring attack on soldiers coincided with Duterte’s proposal to extend the martial law until the end of the year. Duterte declared martial law after local ISIS militants occupied Marawi City in Lanao del Sur province in an effort to put up an Islamic State province in the region. Fighting still raging in the besieged city and hundreds of people had died from the violence that already displaced over 200,000 more.

From the Mindanao Examiner (Jul 23): 5 people missing in Abu Sayyaf stronghold

Five people were reported missing in the restive province of Basilan in southern Philippines where Abu Sayyaf militants are actively operating, officials said Sunday.

Officials said three of those missing, Rene Sanson, Hernando Sally and Mertong Falcasantos are civilians and two others – Roberto Lacastesantos and Renato Casiple – are pro-government militias. All of them are from the town of Lantawan and had been missing since July 20.

“Troops of the Joint Task Force Basilan immediately deployed forces to find the missing persons,” said Army Captain Jo-ann Petinglay, a spokeswoman for the Western Mindanao Command.

It was unknown whether the missing persons were seized by the Abu Sayyaf, blamed by authorities for the spate of killings and ransom kidnappings in Basilan, one of 5 provinces under the Muslim autonomous region.

Petinglay said the operations against the Abu Sayyaf is also continuing in the neighboring province of Sulu. She troops over the weekend recovered an automatic rifle and a grenade launcher left behind by the extremist group in Anuling village in Patikul town where the military clashed with militants on July 20. Two gunmen, Benajir Intag and Bassal Mahalli, were killed in the clash.

She said one soldier was injured in the fighting that erupted in Patikul, a known stronghold of the extremist group which is holding over a dozen kidnapped foreigners and Filipinos in the restive region. But Petinglay said troops only recovered the body of Intag, including the weapons left behind by retreating militants – a K3 squad automatic weapon, an M16A1 Colt with M203 grenade launcher, and an M653 with M203 – and two cell phones, 3 solar panels and 8 backpacks containing assorted food stuffs and personal belongings.

There was no report whether any of the hostages were in the area. Sulu is also part of the autonomous region.

Communist rebels ambushed a military truck and killed an infantryman and injured at least a dozen soldiers and militias in southern Philippines.

The attack occurred late Saturday on a highway in the village of Kitubo in Bukidnon’s Kitaotao town where New People’s Army rebels detonated a roadside bomb. The soldiers were returning to barracks when rebels ambushed them.

The ambush sparked a firefight, but it was not immediately known whether any of the attackers were killed in the clash. The military did not release any statement on the ambush, but the police confirmed the daring attack.

Rebels have vowed to continue attacks on military targets as government peace negotiators failed miserably to convince the separatist group to sign a ceasefire accord and pursue talks aimed at ending the decades-old insurgency in the country.

President Rodrigo Duterte trashed peace negotiations with communist leaders and abandoned efforts by his peace negotiators to convince rebels to stop attacks on government and military targets.

Rebels demanded the immediate release of nearly 500 political prisoners, mostly commanders and leaders of the New People’s Army, as a condition for the resumption of the stalled talks. Duterte already freed over 2 dozen communist leaders, but the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, the political wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, said the President should have released all political prisoners.

Just last week, rebels killed a pro-government militia and wounded 5 presidential guards in separate attacks in North Cotabato’s Arakan town also in the South. NPA rebels, who set up a checkpoint on the highway, attacked a convoy of presidential guards who were part of Duterte’s security group while heading to Cagayan de Oro City.

The ambush triggered a firefight, but there was no report of enemy casualties. The rebels also overran a detachment manned by militias and killed one of them. The attack occurred a day after rebels swooped down on the house of Vice Mayor Emmanuel Suarez of Surigao del Sur’s Cortes town. Suarez and his family were unhurt from the raid, but the rebels seized several firearms and warned the politician to do something to stop illegal fishing and logging in his town.

From the Mindanao Examiner (Jul 23): 9 soldiers killed in ISIS fighting in Marawi City

Military photos released to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner show the meeting between the Ranaw Ulama-Leaders Conference and military and defense officials and other stake holders in Iligan City on July 23, 2017.

At least 9 army soldiers were killed and over 2 dozen others injured in fierce clashes with local ISIS militants in the besieged city of Marawi in southern Philippines, officials said Sunday.

Officials said the weekend fighting left 26 soldiers wounded. “Just yesterday, 9 soldiers got killed and 26 others were wounded during an intense whole day of fighting in downtown Marawi,” said Army Captain Jo-ann Petinglay, a spokeswoman for the Western Mindanao Command.

Petinglay gave no other details, but at least 100 soldiers have so far died in the battle since May 23 when local militants occupied Marawi, the capital of Lanao del Sur in the Muslim autonomous region. The extremists, whose members are mostly from various jihadist groups, pledged allegiance to the Islamic State and vowed to put up a caliphate in the troubled region.

The military insisted that over 400 militants were also killed in the violence, but officials gave little proof to back up the claims, although dozens of civilians were also slain in the battle that displaced some 200,000 people.

The Ranaw Ulama-Leaders Conference, in a manifesto, asked the military to allow residents to return to return home, particularly in areas that had been cleared by soldiers from extremists, and to re-open roads that civilians can and these were Rorogagus-Guimba-Maliwanag-Ramain in Lanao del Sur and Bito-Capitol Complex-Awar Street-Amai Pakpak Avenue-Marantao in Marawi.

It also asked the government and military to include the Ranaw Ulama-Leaders Conference as member of the sub-committees in the “Task Force Bangon Marawi” in an effort to participate in the rehabilitation of the city once the war is over. And recommended the resumption or operation of schools, government agencies and offices, and private establishments as soon as it is safe to do so.

The manifesto, which was forwarded to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana during a meeting in Iligan City, also requested the immediate burial of the deceased and the prompt investigation of alleged abuses and human rights violations by security forces and ISIS militants.

Lorenzana said fighting is still continuing in Marawi and residents cannot return to their homes. “We want you to go back to your homes, but we cannot be sure when, as of the moment fighting is still raging in Marawi. Human lives are precious for us, that is why we want to make sure that by the time you return to your homes, you will already be safe,” he told the members of the Ranaw Ulama-Leaders Conference.

He also defended the imposition of martial law, saying with or without it, civilians will be forced to flee their homes and evacuate because of the violence and to preserve their lives. “We do not want this war to prolong and please understand that we did not ask for this either,” Lorenzana said.

Lieutenant General Carlito G Galvez, commander of the Western Mindanao Command, also echoed Lorenzana’s statement, saying: “We hope you will understand that we are fighting a different kind of enemy. Your soldiers die every day and are making sacrifices just to liberate Marawi from terror. Your soldiers are fighting not for Marawi alone, but for the entire country against these animals who wish to disrupt our normal way of life. We need you to understand the situation, we need you to have more patience,” he said.

Marawi is now in ruins because of military aerial bombings and barrage of artillery and has been likened to Mosul, a city in northern Iraq devastated by wars.

The meeting was also attended by Undersecretary Diosita Andot, of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process; Abdullah Mamao, of the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Overseas Filipino Workers; Secretary Abul Khayr Alonto, of the Mindanao Development Authority; Undersecretary Cesar Yano, of the Department of National Defense.

And Congressman Mauyag Papandayan, Bangcola Adtha, Sultan sa Rogan, Secretary General of the Royal House; Dr. Ali Laguindab, representing the professional sector; Secretary Guiling Mamondiong of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority; former Marawi Councilor Anwar Marabu; Alim Sarangani, representing the religious sector; and Dr. Safrullah Dipatuan, of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front; and other non-governmental groups.

Protesters on Sunday readied their placards in preparation for rallies to be held during President Rodrigo Duterte's Second State of the Nation Address on Monday.

Calls to resume peace talks and end martial law in Mindanao are some of the issues various militant groups will raise during the protest near the Batasang Pambansa tomorrow, where the President will deliver his SONA.

Members of the Kilusang Mayo Uno and Alyansa ng mga Manggagawa Laban sa Kontraktwalisasyon in Mendiola prepared placards and props for their so-called "People's SONA" on Monday.

Authorities estimate around 15,000 protesters will stage protests during the President's SONA tomorrow.

Protesters are expected to leave Mendiola at 7 a.m. tomorrow to march to Constitution Hills, near the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.

There, they will converge with other protesters, including groups from Bayan Muna, Migrante, National Union of Students of the Philippines, and Kilusang Mayo Uno.

The groups said they will call on President Duterte to resume peace talks and to end martial law in Mindanao. They will also ask the President to fulfill his campaign promise of ending contractualization.

The police have allowed critics to protest at the corner of Batasan and Sinagtala roads or about 900 meters away from the House of Representatives complex. The President's supporters, meanwhile, will converge in front of the Civil Service Commission (CSC), or about a kilometer away from the militant groups.

Aside from the rally near Batasan, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Secretary General Renato Reyes Jr. says similar protests will be held in other regions, from Ilocos to Iligan City.

Militant groups staged rallies last year, but these were peaceful and in support of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Farmers hold State of the Peasantry AddressHundreds of farmers from Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and Mindanao also trooped to the Department of Agrarian Reform for the delivery of their State of the Peasantry Address Sunday evening.

The address will list the farmers' grievances against Mr. Duterte's first year in office and will revisit the plight of farmers.

Farmers belong to the poorest sector in the country. Organizers said they expect 2,000 farmers from the provincesto join the mass protests tomorrow.

Protest leader and Anakpawis Representative Ariel Casilao told CNN Philippines the Duterte administration failed to help the struggling and starving Filipino farmers around the country.

Worse, Casilao said cases of harassment and human rights against farmers have risen. He said the Duterte regime is responsible for the death of 70 farmers and agricultural leaders.

He said farmers have remained peasants despite being the food producers who should be self-sufficient, and not starving.

[Translation: We are very alarmed because the statistics shows this is higher than the first year of president Noynoy Aquino, second the trend is continuing… We must charge for unfulfilled promises during President Duterte's first year, promises that didn't come true. We must charge, and we emphasize the promise to distribute land from public lands and sprawling haciendas.]6,300 Police to be deployed SONA

The protests come at the height of several issues, including the extension of martial law in Mindanao.

On Saturday, the Congress approved the extension of martial law in Mindanao until December 31, 2017 amid continued fighting between government troops and the Maute forces in Marawi.

Around 6,300 police will be deployed on July 24 to secure eight different areas in Batasang Pambansa- significantly more than the 4,000-strong police forces deployed last year, during the President's first SONA.

Even though the police has not monitored any terrorist threats in Metro Manila for Monday's event, Albayalde said they are strictly monitoring crowded areas and checkpoints.

The police will also declare a no-fly zone within the six-kilometer radius from the House of Representatives.

An additional 2,000 traffic enforcers will also be deployed. This as three lanes of the Northbound lane of Commonwealth Avenue will be dedicated to protesters--- with a 200-meter buffer zone from the gates of Batasang Pambansa.

Galvez earlier said around 10 foreign fighters are still inside Marawi City, some of them possibly veterans of the conflict in Mosul, Iraq.

The military said the battle in Marawi is getting more intense as soldiers inch towards the remaining Maute lairs.

Duterte declared martial law and suspended the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao on May 23 after members of the Maute group charged into Marawi City as government forces were attempting to arrest former Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon, who was appointed "emir" of Southeast Asia by terrorist group ISIS.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) sees the cross-service collaboration among its three services as crucial for the success of the Joint Force Operating concept in the context of Maritime Strategy.

AFP Command and General Staff College Commandant Major General Herminigildo Aquino admitted during the first tri-service staff to staff talks of the Naval Education Training and Command; Air Education, Training, and Doctrine Command; and Army Training and Doctrine Command.

“This is a long aspired for arrangement… and I am elated to note that [you have] welcomed unity in terms of cross-service cooperation in all stages of training and education. Defending a country with an archipelagic configuration, with such expansive EEZ (exclusive economic zone), needs a maritime perspective, requiring close interaction of military forces in the sea, land, and aerospace environments,” he said.

“A Joint Force Operating concept in the context of Maritime strategy is in order, involving sea, air, and land operations. It will be the combination of maneuver and precision fires into small, agile combined arms teams that burrow into complex terrain to defect, identify and capture or kill the enemy with precision, discrimination, and an understanding of the second and third order consequences that may arise,” Aquino stressed.

Joint Warfare approach is the effective integration of thought and action at all levels of command to achieve the common goal that produces synergy in the conduct of operations.

“The sum of all combined capabilities, with the right force mix made to bear on a particular challenge, will surely be greater than the individual major service capability when applied singly,” he added.

“As our martial history has taught us, valor alone does not win battles or wars. Technological superiority over our adversaries is necessary, with the intensive training required to prepare our men and women for hybrid asymmetric wars. This is the first and fundamental step into achieving the goal of producing soldiers who will fight and win battles and campaigns for our republic—jointly,” the official ended.

Blockading military forces in southern Palawan engaged armed militants of the New People’s Army (NPA) anew in a 25-minute firefight Sunday morning to prevent their escape from Bataraza town.

Captain Cherryl Tindog, spokesperson of the Western Command (WESCOM), confirmed the new clash happened more or less two kilometers off Sitio Kambingan, Barangay Malihud, in the said municipality.

"At about 7:20 a.m. this morning, a fresh encounter occurred between government troops and the armed militants in the mountainous areas of Malihud," she said.

The enclave is a part of the said barangay where government forces seized on July 21 the training area for IED-making of the communist group.

The said date also marked the first encounter between the military forces and the insurgents at Sitio Ilyan, also in Malihud.

"Team WESCOM believes the CPP-NPA-NDF communist rebels are attempting to flee the Malihud vicinity, but are being held back by the military’s focused campaign with help from local residents who are providing pieces of information on their whereabouts," she said.

No troop was injured during the latest encounter.

On July 18, a roadside bombing incident cause minor injury to a Marine soldier aboard an M-35 truck that was on its way to a humanitarian activity project in Bataraza.

It was followed on July 19 by an attack by the NPA that killed two Marines in Roxas, northern Palawan.

On Wednesday, WESCOM labeled the acts of violence of the NPA against government peacekeepers in Palawan as "shameless and gutless acts".

Tindog said the communist-terrorists’ admission that it carried out the roadside bombing the killed two Marines is a desperate move because of the agony and torture of losing their active hideout and drill camp in Barangay Samariñana, Brooke’s Point last month.

"We, at the WESCOM, will continue with our focused civic military operations. We will not leave the areas, we will not stop, especially in providing humanitarian assistance to people in distant locations of Palawan,” Tindog added.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) guarantees that safeguards and other mechanisms are in place against possible abuses of the military under the area of the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom).

This was the assurance made by Eastmincom Deputy Commander and spokesperson of the command on martial law here, Brig. Gen. Gilbert Gapay following the approval of the extension of the martial period in Mindanao.

"The same safeguards prescribed by the Constitution and the other safeguards and mechanisms that were emplaced and established during the 60-day martial law," Gapay said.

Gapay welcomed the approval of the extension of the martial period in Mindanao until the end of the year, saying: "the legislators understand the necessity of extending it."

Gapay vowed the AFP, which is the implementer of martial law, will continue to do its task in accordance with the existing laws and other guidelines that will be given to them.

Gapay earlier reported that as of June 30, Eastmincom under the leadership of Lt. Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero, has continuously prevented the spillover or spread of the Marawi crisis in Eastmincom’s area and effectively shielded Eastern Mindanao from terrorist attacks and deterred any diversionary, retaliatory or sympathetic attacks by local terrorist groups.

During the 60-day martial law period, Eastmincom reported that Eastern Mindanao remains generally peaceful, safe, and secure due to tightened security measures being implemented by the Command.

As of June 30, a total of 17,494 checkpoint operations were already conducted, both fixed and mobile checkpoints. They conducted 9,742 security and visibility patrols focusing on vital installations, critical infrastructures, places of convergence such as malls and churches, Gapay reported.

They have also 31 violators in these checkpoints; confiscated 15 firearms and even confiscated 11 illegal drugs. Curfews were also being implemented in 129 cities and municipalities all over Eastern Mindanao.

Eastmincom was able to activate martial law special action groups to run after and apprehend, track, apprehend those terrorists and supporters included in the arrest order issued by the martial law administrator. Also, 5,900 barangay intelligence nets were established to help track terrorists.

In a special joint session on Saturday, the Philippine Congress voted (261-18) to extend the period of martial law until the year-end overwhelmingly approving the request of President Rodrigo Duterte.

In a statement, Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles and PBA Party-list Representative Jericho Nograles both supported the extension.

Karlo Nograles, who chairs the House Committee on Appropriations emphasized that: “patriotism and duty to the country dominated as the special joint session of Congress voted to extend President Rody Duterte's proclamation of martial law in Mindanao."

He said both chambers of Congress led by Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez deserve the people's trust and confidence for upholding the integrity of the nation's constitutional and democratic processes and territory.

"Now let us allow our security forces to do their job of finally crushing the terrorist rebels in Marawi and defeat all other terrorist groups in Mindanao. I also hope and pray that Marawi and Mindanao will be cleared of all terrorist and rebel threats so we can start rebuilding Marawi and Mindanao can rise again," he said.

On the other hand, Jericho Nograles said extending the President’s proclamation of martial law only affirmed the national consensus of support to his unflinching war against terrorism and other serious crimes.

"The leadership and the members of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, as representatives of the people, voiced their respective positions in the open debate, demonstrating an unwavering defense of the nation's territorial integrity and its constitutional and democratic institutions. For this act of patriotism, they deserve our people's adulation! Now let's buckle down to work and start rehabilitating Marawi," he said.

While not giving an exact number, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced that it has more than sufficient troops to augment police units tasked to secure President Rodrigo Duterte's second State-of-the-Nation-Address (SONA) this Monday.

These military personnel will be under Joint Task Force-National Capital Region, AFP public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said Sunday.

"We can't give the exact exact number but what we can tell you is that we have sufficient forces to support the Philippine National Police (PNP)," he added in Filipino.

An estimated 6,000 police officers are tasked to secure the Batasang Complex in Monday's SONA activities which is expected to begin 4 p.m.

He added that the AFP contingent will be coming from the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

"The AFP is merely a force provider, so if we are given an exact area for deployment, these personnel will be sent there immediately," Arevalo added

As this develops, the military is still to detect any security threat for the SONA activities.

"We are not really about the presence of threat or not, we will always be proactive (in our security approach) and we are hopeful na magkakaroon tayo ng peaceful and meaningful SONA tomorrow (Monday)," he added.

The new leadership of the 7,000 combatants of the Cordillera Peoples Liberation Army (CPLA), the group that originally signed the peace pact with the government in 1986, urges Cordillerans to inform them of members misrepresenting themselves and are into illegal activities using the group’s name.

Abra Vice Governor Ronald Balao-as, who was elected chairman of the CPLA, on Saturday said: “If somebody is claiming to be a CPLA, doing illegal activities in the Cordillera, just tell us and we will give him the necessary action and discipline.”

As a commitment to peace and order, which the group is advancing, they are pushing for the continued talks on peace with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP) to renew their call for autonomy in the Cordillera.

"If there are people who come and squat (in lands), any illegal activities here in Benguet, tell us. That is one of the things we want to be cleansed, the name of the CPLA here in the Cordillera," he said.

He urged the public to report to them any CPLA member who is into illegal activities.

He talked about one faction of the CPLA whom he described as scalawag group. "Only one has not regrouped, the Mailed Molina group, and we consider them scalawag CPLA," he said.

He said that in June 24, 2017, about 7,000 members of the CPLA groups from Kalinga, Apayao, Ifugao, Abra, Benguet and some from Mountain Province have joined forces and unified with his group in an event in Abra and gave their support to him as chairman of the unified CPLA, with continued peace with the government as its agenda.

Other officers were also named in the gathering last June.

With the reorganized group, he said, they will work to attain the top agenda of the CPLA when it signed a peace agreement with the national government in 1986. “When we signed the peace agreement with the administration of former President Corazon Aquino in 1986, we laid town a 26-point demand and the number one is autonomy. Until now it is still a priority of the group. That’s why we reorganized ourselves so that we can help in the campaign to push for autonomy,” he said.

He also mentioned that CPLA is continuously talking with the officers of the OPAPP for the closure agreement, which he said will only be attained when autonomy is finally attained.

An NPA team under the Mt. Kitanglad Subregional Command harassed the troops under the 1st Special Forces Batallion and the PNP Provincial Public Safety Company undergoing a combat operation in the mountainous part of Sityo Saga-saga, Brgy. Concepción, Pangantucan, Bukidnon last July 19, 2017 at 3 o’clock in the afternoon. PO1 John Herbert Pinol, a member of PNP-Wao was killed in the incident.

Related to this combat operation was the intelligence nga operation conducted by the 1st SFB on the said area last July 13 wherein a peasant resident was arrested and was presented to the public as a captured NPA. Also, the said combat operation was assisted by tree planters working near the NPA encampment.

The media reports from the AFP spokesperson on the incident stating that arms and other military hardware were confiscated that day was a complete lie. These reports only reflect their desperation in covering up the compounded NPA victories in the province and in the region against the escalating all-out war and against the planned Martial Law extension of the Duterte regime.

THE NEW PEOPLE’S ARMY – Front 6, South Central Bukidnon Sub-Regional Command, North Central Mindanao Region (NPA-SCB-NCMR) launched two tactical offensives and two rounds of execution only within 10 days.

July 5, 2017, a team of the NPA executed Noel “Toto” Madrial, 45, a drug leader and rapist, in Brgy. Mahayag, Quezon, Bukidnon. Madrial was previously dis-armed with a .40 caliber pistol and was expelled from the community due to cases of harassments, indiscriminate firing of gun and of drug pushing. After several months, he returned and further perpetuates his vices. In fact, he raped a 14-year old girl.

Another round of execution was conducted by the NPA on July 8, 2017 to an AFP agent, Jory Gonsaga in Brgy. San Jose, Quezon, Bukidnon. Gonsaga committed criminal cases against the revolutionary movement, wherein on 1991, he robbed an amount of P10, 000 and surrendered a .45 caliber pistol to the AFP. Since then, he became one of the guides of the AFP on their military operations and was responsible of a raid of an NPA camp.

Also, on July 12, 2017, 3:40 AM, an NPA platoon ambushed Benjamin “Nonong” Salusad, including his CAFGU members, in Brgy. Dao, San Fernando, Bukidnon. Salusad is a regular army of the 403rd Brigade, Philippine Army and is active inpersecuting the revolutionary movement. Together with his son, Alde “Butsoy” Salusad, he also became a protector for the entry of destructive mining and plantations in Mt. Kiranaggol and other part of San Fernando. Salusad was also responsible for killing Lumad leaders, including Datu Jimmy Liguyon, and more other Lumad. But the two Salusad’s were not arrested by the state, despite of warrant-of-arrests issued against them. In fact, they still continued in perpetrating criminality under their paramilitary group, the New Indigenous People’s Army for Reform (NIPAR). In the said NPA operation, two of the CAFGU’s were killed-in-action (KIA), Joas Licawan and Rolan Lumatay, while Salusad is under a critical medical condition. In a media interview with Lt. Erwin Bugarin, spokesperson of 8th IB, he did not claim Salusad as an AFP soldier.

As a false appearance of their odor, after the AFP attains their objective of using the Lumads for their assaults against the revolutionary movement, they would just abandon them and in fact deny them to the public.

After the following days, July 14, 2017, 2:15 AM, two squads of the NPA harassed a platoon of the 8th IB, while doing psywars and intelligence operation, in Purok 7, Mahayag, Quezon, Bukidnon. The exchange of fire only took five minutes, but the AFP continued firing until 2:45 AM. Two of the AFP was confirmed as KIA in the said harassment, while the NPA troops safely withdrew to their camps. Other AFP casualty has not yet been confirmed.

These rounds of NPA military actions would bring another round of victories to the revolutionary movement and to the oppressed and exploited masses.